The Washington critic., 1887-10-25
DANCING FOR THE WINE.
The Celebrated Contest Between Zeb
Vance and Sion II. Rogers.

The celebrated Contest Between Zeb
Vance and Sion II. Rogers.
General j. NJ. Leach spends consider
able Of his time In Washington with
his son j. NJ. Leach, Jr., who Is chief
Of division In the Sixth Auditor soilice.
The General Is as full OF "reminis-
cences" and good stories as ever, and
one which heard him relate to party
of North Carolinians the other evening
will bear repeating. Said he, In effect
"You know that Zeb Vance used to
he member of the National House
before the war, and Sion Rogers rep
resented the Raleigh district in Con-
gress. Well. some friends sent Frank
Shober, of Salisbury, and me case
Of very fine wine one day. Zeb and
Sion found 1t out somehow, and they
used to come around to see us mighty
often. In fact, they became great
friends of ours, sticking closer than
brothers-while the wine lasted.
zone night, after they had relieved
us Of half dozen bottles. more or less,
they got to feeling pretty good, and
after a while Zeb remarked that he be-
lieved he was just about the best dan
Ger that North Carolina ever sent to
Congress.
Now, nobody ever heard of Zeb
Vance's virtues as a dancer before.
Every one knows that he doesn't in the
least resemble ballet girl. He amt
built right to dance and didn't be.
lieve he had ever had any experience
In that direction before that night, but
he stuck to his assertion.
"Well, Zeb kept repeating the state.
ment until finally Sion says: 'Zeb, l
don't count myself any great shakes as
practical exponent of the terpsi.
chorean art, but allow that can Just
dance the hind legs off of YOU
NOW, Sion Rogers was built like
bean.pole; he was over six feet high
and us thin as wafer, and no living
man ever saw him without big pair
of eye. glasses adjusted to his long nose.
If 1t was funny to think of Zeb Vances
dancing, 1t was simply ridiculous to
consider Sion Rogers In that connec.
tion. But Shober said he believed
Sion could down Zeb; asserted to the
contrary. and Shober bet me 800.
The room was cleared, Zeb and Sion
peeled Off their wearing apparel until
nothing was left but nocturnal habili
ments, and the two contestants took
their positions on the floor. 1t was an
Ill assorted palr-never were two men
more unlike. Shober and were to do
the patting, and Zeb and Sion were
told that the man who stayed on the
floor longest was to have a half dozen
bottles of our wine. Shober started
the old plantation pat; the dancers
caught step and went at it.
"Go 1t, Sionl' shouted Shober.
"Buckle down to it, Zeb 7 l ex-
claimed. and both men began to rattle
off double shuttle back step that
would have turned any niger in North
Carolina green with envy.
"Time passed.
midnight came and went; the clock
on the mantel struck one. The dancing
still went on.
daylight appeared. Vance was
beginning to double like hunchback,
and he was sweating like draft horse.
Sion seemed to grow taller every min.
ute; his head was thrown back, his
arms stood akimbor, only his toes ap-
peared to touch the floor, and not q
drop of perspiration was visible about
him
"The hotel breakfast bell rang. Sho.
ber and were nearly exhausted, al.
though we took turns In paiting; but
the dancing still went on. Zeb's shirt
was sticking to him like a huge court
plaster, but Sion looked as cool as O
Christmas snow storm. Zeb was benz
over until he had nearly assumed sit
ting posture, his bow legs looking as
round as q barrel hoop. Sion continued
to grow taller, and HIS eye glasses still
preserved their equilibrium on the end
of his nose.
"When 12 o'clock came and Congress.
assembled we suggested a recess. But
no; Sion wouldn't hear to 1t, Finally
saw that Zeb, who now stood only
about 2 feet 2 inches In his stock, was
about to subside, and gave up.
"The artists then once more regalet
themselves with our wine, and Zet
went to bed. But Sion didn't Afte
dancing 10 hours without stop, h,
went to the House of Representative
and made big speech, - Maxwell
German In the Southern Home,